An Introduction to Retirement

by Marie G
(Ireland)

An Introduction to Retirement

My faithful New Oxford Dictionary offers the following definition of retirement ‘the action or fact of leaving one's job and ceasing to work.’ In the same book, I find work defined as ‘activity involving mental or physical effort, done in order to achieve a purpose or result.’

Surely one will still be doing activities involving mental or physical effort after retirement? Or else, what is left for us retirees?

So, my first task as a new retiree (not in the dictionary) is to suggest an adjusted definition: ‘retirement is the action or fact of leaving one's job and ceasing to work for a living, and under imposed obligations.’

With all this free time, I have to decide what my daily life will be. I revisit all my previous interests and priorities, in order to select my new, self-imposed obligations. I also explore new avenues, preferably on the low-cost side. In parallel, I want to keep my spirits high and my stress low.

For all this, I need some personal re-organization:

• A minimum of daily physical activity.
• A maximum of healthy food.
• A number of short- and long-term projects.
• A balance between being on my own and meeting others.
• A choice between various potential involvements.
• An on-going education.
• A regular assessment of the results of my expectations.

My interests and activities are... writing (including historical research), reading, photography, drawing, painting, collages, sewing, outdoors (walking and maintenance), travel.

I will work next on the details: list of projects and little stories

Marie G.

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